FOUNDING BISHOP AND CONTINUITY
Wesley S. Ray
Founding Bishop · Circle of the Elders · This Grace Bible Churches
The Founding Bishop
Wesley S. Ray is identified in the existing governing instruments as Wesley Scott Ray, the one and only Founding Bishop of This Grace Bible Churches. The historical office and title are unique to him.
Under the TGBC constitution, he serves in that capacity for the duration of his natural life and presides over the Circle when present and able. Circle appointments during his lifetime follow procedures approved by him and consistent with the governing instruments.
No successor inherits the title Founding Bishop. The documents reserve succession after his natural death to the Circle of the Elders.
Continuity and succession
Following the Founding Bishop’s natural death, the historical office permanently ceases. The Circle selects a qualified Overseeing Bishop, who continues TGBC’s established doctrine and ecclesiastical order.
The succession declaration specifies a quorum of a majority of currently recognized eligible voting Circle members, unless a controlling instrument requires more. Selection requires at least two-thirds of eligible members participating at a meeting with a quorum. Written acceptance and a permanent record of the action are required.
Succession does not transfer church property to heirs, individual leaders, or Circle members merely by reason of office.
PRAECEPTORIUM
The Elders’ Circle / Circle of Elders
PRAECEPTORIUM is the internal ecclesiastical teaching and oversight body of This Grace Bible Churches. Membership is limited to expressly admitted qualified bishops and elders. The Founding Bishop is its sole initial member. Deacons serve in their recognized office and do not enter the Circle by ordination or administrative delegation.
Read the current Circle charterTHE PRAECEPTORIUM AND THE PRAECEPTORIUS
The Order and the Founding Bishop’s exclusive title
Praeceptorium names the Circle of the Elders, the internal teaching and oversight Order within This Grace Bible Churches.
Praeceptorius is Bishop Wesley Ray’s exclusive personal ecclesiastical title. He is the original and sole Praeceptorius. Membership in the Circle, temporary appointment, incapacity, death, or succession does not confer or transfer that title.
These ecclesiastical designations create neither a separate legal entity nor a third ordained office. Sound doctrine, the Gospel of Christ, the King James Bible rightly divided, and Pauline Dispensational Doctrine govern the Order’s work.
Identity and House to House Assembly
Our identity
This Grace Bible Churches, the Circle of the Elders (the Order, the Praeceptorium), and Church in Thy House are not a denomination, are not part of a denomination, are not a religion, and are not part of Christianity. They are not Jewish and are not Catholic. They are not corruptors of the Word of God.
Our assembly and practice
We are not part of the "corporate" American Christian Church setup. We have no religious buildings, statues, baptistries, altars, or pastors, and none of the trappings of the religion known as Christianity.
Saved believers gathering house to house
This Grace Bible Churches consists of true saved believers who rightly divide the word of truth and meet house to house. Church in Thy House is the mode by which This Grace Bible Churches gathers together. The Gospel of Christ that saves today is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJB. Our standard for rightly dividing the word of truth is 2 Timothy 2:15 KJB.
King James Bible only
We use only King James Bibles: the 1769 edition of the 1611, Pure Cambridge Text. The King James Bible is our final written authority. We do not change, supposedly correct, or corrupt the Word of God.
The Order and the Bishop title
The Circle of the Elders, the Order, and the Praeceptorium name the same internal teaching and oversight body within This Grace Bible Churches. Praeceptorius is the Bishop title within that body. Bishop Wesley Ray is the original and sole Praeceptorius; admission to the Circle does not confer that title. Within This Grace Bible Churches, Bishop Wesley Ray is known as the Founding Bishop.